Smithsonian Folklife Festival: You Can’t Get there From Here

June 25, 2008 by John  Send to a Friend

Each June, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival brings together three cultures and camps them out on the National Mall. Its a great opportunity to see traditional craftsmen and musicians - who have never stepped outside of their remote village - surrounded by hefty tourists in fannypacks who have never stepped out of the tourist traps of D.C.

This year, the festival welcomes cultures from two locations you most likely can’t get to - Bhutan and outer space and one who you can’t escape - Texas.

Bhutan

Bhutan is one of the most-beautiful and least-visited countries on the planet. The Himalayan kingdom is virtually impossible to get to. Sure, Matt Lauer visited last year on The Today Show, but unless you are rolling in Pitt/Jolie money, then cost to book a government-sponsored tour and its paperwork leaves Bhutan out of reach.

The remoteness of Bhutan has kept its Buddhist population blissfully isolated. Since 1972, Bhutan has attempted to promote well-being as the only country to measure its Gross National Happiness. An absolute monarchy for all of its history, Bhutan has recently liberalized under the authority of King Wangchuck (the most awesome king name ever). Bhutan has recently legalized televisions and allowed a few foreign-language films into the country. King Wangchuck recently forced the country to hold elections to bring democracy to his people. Happy as most Bhutans are, the people didn’t like it and decided to overwhelmingly (against the King’s wishes) to vote for politicians dedicated to giving the King as much power as possible.

The festival will be crawling with Buddhist monks, musicians and Bhutanese food (which if not always vegetarian, is pretty vegetarian-friendly as part of Himalayan Buddhist culture).

NASA

In another way of saying “Screw you…you can’t go here either!” the Smithsonian has decided to feature the culture of NASA at this year’s festival. Space is still pretty off-limits to most except Richard Branson and Lance Bass (even Bass never made it).

While featured festival cultures traditionally feature food, NASA does not. Sadly, there will be no stands selling freeze-packed peas, Tang or dippin’ dots.

Texas

As if Texans needed any more attention. As the third culture in the Folklife festival, the Bush Administration has chosen to highlight all things Texas. After all, you might as well dance with the one who brought ya.

Texas maintains a culture as big as the egos of its inhabitants. As a tribute to its diversity, festival music includes traditional country, Tejano, blues, gospel and mariachi. The food vendors feature, well…a lot of beef. Barbecued beef. Texas ain’t too big on vegetables. And there will be TexMex, of course.

Unfortunately, the Smithsonian appears to have overlooked some of the most tackily awesome aspects of Texan culture.

Here is BYT’s List of What SHOULD have been included from Texas:

All My Exes. - Living in Texas as interpreted by George Straight
Me Llamo is Peggy Hill. - Tejano culture through redneck eyes
There is no Basement in the Alamo. - Texas in Film
A Connecticut Yankee in Crawford’s Court. - The Life of George W. Bush
The Yellow Rose of Texas - The Life of Anna Nicole Smith, A Texan Daughter
The Mary Kay Make-Up Challenge - Sponsored by Mary Kay (Dallas)

The 42nd Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival
June 25-29 and July 2-6
National Mall
Free Admission

For more information visit: folklife.si.edu/festival/2008

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